Machine for casting battery-grids.



No. 895,902. PATENTBD AUG. 11, 1908.

- 1 J. A. sMITH.

MACHINE FOR CASTING BATTERY GRIDS.

PPLI T ONE 1 [A CA I ILED SEPT 20, 907 ZSHEETS SHEET L WITNESSES v 1mymrofi W 1 Jku Ji ZezQMerJhZZ'Z v ATTORNEYS .PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

A v J. A. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR CASTING BATTERY GRID APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20,1907.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sm Inhnu I I l llIl Y hl I I l IQ Mfg? WITNESSES ATTORNEYS UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH, OF NEW YORK, 'N. Y.

MACHINE FOR CASTING BATTERY-GRIDS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, inthe county and State of New York, have invented a new and 1m rovedMachine for Castin Battery-Grids, which the following is a ull, clear,and exact de scription.

My invention relates to machines for easting battery grids and admits ofgeneral use, my more fparticular object being to produce a type 0machine especially adapted for casting grids to be used in storagebatteries.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine made in accordance with myinvention, this view showing the table and the fixed and movable matrixbars for casting the battery plate, and further showing the levers forraising all of the movable matrix bars in order to dislodge the plateafter its completion; Fig. 2 is a cross section upon the line 22 of Fig.1, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing articularly themanner in which thetread e levers and accompanying partsare employed toraise the movable matrix bars; Fig. 3 is a perspective showing one ofthe fixed matrix bars removed from the machine; Fig. 4 is a perspectiveshowing another of the matrix bars removed from position, the bar inquestion being provided with indentations for the purpose of formingbeads upon the grid and integral therewith, to be upset after thecompletion ofthe battery plate; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective,partly in section, showing the under side of the battery plate asprovided with beads integral therewith and ready to be headed up, forthe purpose of retaining the active material.

The table is shown at 6 and is provided with a large centrally disposedaperture 7, and further provided with legs 8 which rest upon the flooror ground. Mounted rigidly upon the table are two flat bars 9 ofconsiderable size, extending substantially from one end of the table tothe other and disposed arallel with each other. Above the flat ars 9 areangle irons 10 which are partially supported by end rods 11. For thepurpose of securing the end rods 11 relatively to the Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed September 20, 1907.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Serial No. 393,801.

angle irons 10, screws 12 pass directly through the angle irons and intoreduced portions 13 which are integral with the end rods 11. Thisconstruction renders the table 6, flat bars 9, angle irons 10 and endbars 11, very rigid in relation to each other and yet enables them to betaken apart if desired by the operator.

Located intermediate the end bars 11 are fixed matrix bars 14 of thegeneral form shown in Fig. 3. Each matrix bar is pro vided with reducedends 15 and with slots 16, the latter extending directly through itstop. By the term fixed matrix bars I do not mean that the bars 14 aretight. On the contrary, they merely make a neat fit and can readily beremoved if either of the angle irons 10 be disconnected from the table.Normally, however, the bars 14 have no motion,

16. Movable matrix bars are shown at 20,

and are provided with central portions 21 having slots 22, the form ofthese slots being somewhat similar to that of the slots 16. I11-termedia'te the central portion 21 and the outer or end portions of eachmovable matrix bar 20, are openings 23, as will be understood from Fig.2. This-is for the purpose of enabling the movable matrix bars to beraised, the fixed matrix bars being held down by the angle irons 10. I

A number-of rods 24 pass loosely through guides 25 these guides beingfixed upon the legs 8. These rods 24 are connected at their tops with alongitudinal flat bar 26 extending beneath all of the movable matrixbars 20 (see bottom of Fig. 1), and the bars 24 are movable by aid of atreadle 30. The bars 24 are connected with arms 24*, mounted rigidlyupon a rocking shaft 28, which extends practically throughout the entirewidth of the machine. A second treadle 27 mounted at one end of themachine is connected rigidly with said shaft. The shaft is mounted'inbearings 29, and at its end opposite the treadle 27 is located thetreadle 30.

A number of rods 31 are connected by arms 30 with the rocking shaft 28.These rods 31 extend loosely through guides 32, and are connectedrigidly with a flat bar I designate this bar and the bar 26 as liftingbars. By depressing either treadle 27 or 30 the rods 24, 31 are allthrust obliquely upward, thereby raising the lifting bars 26, 33 andthus raising the movable matrix bars.

The grid, which may be of lead or alloy, is shown at 34, Fig. 5. It iscast by pouring the metal directly upon the fixed and movable matrixbars, as these parts are shown in Fig. 1. The grid, when removed, isprovided with beads 35 formed by the slots 19, Fig. 4, and these beads,when afterward upset, serve to retain active material in the grid. Inorder to give the mold proper heat, I preferably provide the table 6with burners 36 which may be fed by a gas pipe 37, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 2.

Disposed toward one end of the table 6 are four bars 38, 39, 40, 41, thebars 38, 40 being fixed matrix bars, and the bars 39, 41 being movablematrix bars. The four bars last mentioned, however, are shaped somewhatdifferently from the other matrix-bars and are provided with apertures42, 43, 44, 45, for the purpose of forming a neck for the grid.Intermediate these bars are other matrix bars 43 analogous to the bars17 shown in Fig. 4. All of the fixed and movable matrix bars areprovided with mutilations 14, 18 for facilitating the distribution ofheat received through the opening 7.

My invention is used as follows: The mold being heated, if desired, byaid of the burners 36, and the metal being ready, the latter is pouredinto the various slots 16, 19 and 22 and the apertures 42, 43, 44, 45,as will be understood from'Fig. 1. The metal finds its way through thevarious slots and passages crossing the same, thus forming a grid of thetype shown in Fig. 5. The operator now depresses either treadle 27 or 30according to which is most convenient. The rods 24, 31, being thrustobliquely upward, cause the lifting bars 26, 33, to raise all of thevarious movable matrix bars. This disengages the newly formed grid andraises it from the various fixed matrix bars which engage it and towhich it may have more or less tendency to cling. The operator nowremoves his foot and thus allows the plate to be removed from themachine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The combination of matrix bars provided with slots for facilitatingthe formation of a grid, and further provided with deeper slots forforming beads upon said grid.

2. The combination of a lurality of matrix bars, some being movab erelatively to others, and mechanism connected with said movable bars foractuating the same, said mechanism being provided with a 3. Thecombination of a table provided with an open space, a plurality ofmatrix bars supported by said table and extending across said openspace, means for heating said matrix bars by aid of said open space,

and means controllable at will for moving some of said matrix barsrelatively to others for the purpose of disengaging from said matrixbars a member cast thereupon.

4. The combination of a table provided centrally with an open space, aplurality of matrix bars supported by said table and extending acrosssaid open. space, means for directing a frame into said open space anddirectly against said matrix bars, and means for moving some of saidmatrix bars relatively to others.

5. The combination of a supporting member, angle bars mounted thereuponand provided with projecting flanges, end bars provided with reducedportions extending under said flanges, fixed matrix bars disposedintermediate said end bars and likewise pro vided with reduced portionsextending beneath said flanges, a plurality of movable matrix barsdisposed intermediate said fixed matrix bars, and means controllable atwill for raising said movable matrix bars relatively to said fixedmatrix bars.

6. The combination of a plurality of fixed matrix bars and a pluralityof movable matrix bars, said fixed matrix bars being alternated inposition with said movable matrix bars, all of said bars being providedwith slots to facilitate the formation of a grid, and means controllableat will for lifting said movable matrix bars relatively to said fixedmatrix bars.

7. The combination of fixed and movable matrix bars, some ofsaid barsbeing provided with a body portion of a grid to be cast, and others ofsaid bars being provided with openings representing the neck of saidgrid to be cast, and means controllable at will for lifting said movablebars relatively to said fixed bars.

3. The combination of a table provided with an opening, a plurality ofmatrix bars mounted upon said table and provided with mutilationsregistering With said opening for the purpose of heating said barsthrough said opening, and means for moving some of said bars relativelyto others.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH.

' Witnesses:

WALTON HARIusoN, EVER-ARD B. IVIARSHALL.

